• ‘Sin’ Grinder: Robert Rodriguez, not one to rest on his Sin City and The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D laurels, has two confirmed projects in the works, and Quentin Tarantino is lurking around them. Q and R are teaming up on Grind House, with each directing an hourlong horror film, the always-tight-lipped Rodriguez’s spokesperson confirmed. The two films will be packaged together with some interesting extras and trailers linking them, which will come from the new Weinstein Co. It’s all an homage to the Seventies theatres where genre films were shown back to back, or “ground” together. Rodriguez’s peeps aren’t talking too much, but the BBC has him on the record saying Sin City 2 is a go, with graphic novelist Frank Miller working on a script based on his A Dame to Kill For storyline. Totally unconfirmed rumors have Rodriguez making Sin City 2 and Sin City 3 back to back. Oh, and there’s also something in the wind about him helming a Conan the Barbarian remake and/or sequel.
• Screening Soon: Screen Door Jesus was a controversial hit at the 2003 South by Southwest Film Festival, and now it will finally find a wider audience. Indican Pictures picked up North American rights during the Cannes Film Festival, and a limited theatrical release is set for September in Texas. If the crowds come to worship the Altman-esque ensemble piece, look for the film to hit more theatres, producer Dave Stuart said. Based on a series of short stories by Christopher Cook and filmed in Austin, Lockhart, and San Marcos in 2002, Screen Door explores what happens when an image of Jesus becomes an object of worship, and closely examines both religious faith and injustice. And it does it with a hint of humor and plenty of humanity. Cook’s original story was inspired by actual events in Port Neches that remain East Texas timely: An image of Jesus was recently spotted on a Beaumont woman’s bedroom drapes. Director/script writer Kirk Davis, whose own fundamentalist upbringing drew him to the project, is writing another script for the film’s New York-based production team, Stuart said.
• Return to Sundance: P.J. Raval was in Park City in January when his cinematography on Kyle Henry‘s Room was on display at the Sundance Film Festival; now, he’s back in Utah for the Sundance Institute Lab. As he prepared to board an airplane last week, Raval said he’ll be shooting for two or three different directors chosen for the program.
• It’s a Date: Grab your preferred caffeine source. The June 24-26 weekend finds Reel Women sponsoring the Austin 48 Hour Film Project, in which teams must write, shoot, edit, and complete a film between 7pm, Friday, and 7pm, Sunday. Oh, and the genre isn’t revealed until Friday night, when flash filmmakers also learn the common prop, character, and line of dialogue that must be included. Entries will get a local screening, and the winners will compete in a national contest. More info and registration forms are at www.48hourfilm.com, and check in at www.reelwomen.org for the local latest… The Austin Film Festival and ROK Entertainment Group want to put your short film on cell phones everywhere. There is no entry fee, but the July 1 deadline is fast approaching. More at www.austinfilmfestival.com… Speaking of July, that’s when this column will return after I take a break with my Lavagirl on a Sharkboy-infested island far, far away.
Send film tips to filmnews@austinchronicle.com.
This article appears in June 10 • 2005.